North Korea Shows off Reaper, Global Hawk-like Drones to Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed off drones that resembled U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk, and ballistic missiles to a Russian delegation led by Sergei Shoigu.

Notably, South Korea operates four Global Hawks that it ordered in 2014.

On July 26, Kim and Shoigu visited the "Weaponry Exhibition-2023" event showcasing new weapons and equipment, accompanied by key Pyongyang officials, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported that one of the North Korean drones is “so similar to the Global Hawk available to the South Korean Air Force that they can be confused if both are simultaneously in the air over the Korean Peninsula.”

Even numbers on the side of the North Korean drone looks like those put on Global Hawks.

A poster next to the displayed drone shows it in flight. This means that Pyongyang has not only developed these drones, but also tested them.

Photos released by KCNA showed various other weapons on display, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).

Shoigu arrived in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Korean people in the Patriotic Liberation War of 1950-1953.

Last week, Russian defense ministry said "The visit will contribute to the strengthening of Russian-North Korean military ties and will become an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries.”